Why do we quote?

"This fascinating book examines the ways in which we quote today and the curious history of how quoting became part of our everyday lives. Quoting provides a link to our loved ones ("as my mother used to say ... "), to our religious and literary heritage, to past wisdom and to current attitudes. It can also be irritating, patronising, pedantic and, in some cases, illegal. Ruth Finnegan's meticulous study sheds new light on how quoting has been used in visual, oral and written traditions around the world. It is an enjoyable and engrossing read for anyone interested in language, culture and literature, and makes us rethink our ideas about originality, authorship and plagiarism"--Publisher's description